The remarkable Great Garden (Grosser Garten) has remained unchanged for more than 300 years. The grotto designed by Niki de Saint Phalle is a major attraction here. The "Red Thread", a line painted onto the road, provides the ideal way to explore the places of interest in the centre of Hannover without a guide. The world's foremost trade fair venue has a very cosmopolitan feel at its atmospheric festivals, celebrations and concerts, as well as a lively cultural scene.

The Royal Gardens in the district of Herrenhausen are an experience in themselves. The 4,200 metre �Red Thread�, a painted line on the road surface, is an excellent way of exploring the city's sights: the New Town Hall and Old Town Hall, old quarter, the Leineschloss state government building, the various museums and the opera house. There are impressive panoramic views of the town from the New Town Hall. A sloping lift takes you up to the dome of this magnificent edifice dating from the period of Kaiser Wilhelm.

From 20th century art treasures to local and municipal history, from the Ancient Egyptians and antiquity to aerospace and caricature, Hannover's diverse museums have one thing in common: excellence. The Sprengel Museum, the Kestner Museum and the Lower Saxony State Museum are firm favourites with visitors to Hannover.